The Amazing Career of Volleyball

#volleyball blog

The Amazing Career of Volleyball

Rayden Jacobs

Monica Evans

English

04 April 2025

The Amazing Career of Volleyball

It is estimated that only 288 volleyball players play in the Olympics. It's difficult to get on a team, but a well-known career path. I want to be an Olympic volleyball player and will supersede all challenges!

The main goal in playing volleyball is to successfully direct the ball over the net into the imposing team's court in a way that they cannot return it, therefore scoring a point. First, you or the opposing team serves the ball over the net. Then, you pass by getting the ball to the setter. The setter sets the front left, middle, or right side. Finally, resulting in a point by tipping or spiking. This happens over and over until one of the teams lets the ball hit the ground.

Volleyball is both a mental and physical sport with a humendous emphasis on mental toughness. The fitness part provides you with a full body workout, also enhancing cardiovascular health and building muscle strength. Volleyball includes establishing your hand eye coordination by the attribute of spatial awareness and peripheral view to see the spacing of the ball and court, knowing where your fellow players are. Volleyball is proven to help your heart health. This is a dynamic sport that maintains your cardiopulmonary health and improves your cardiovascular endurance.

Don't forget volleyball improves your mind. One of the ways is communication by emphasizing teamwork. This enhances the flow and the overall purpose of the game. Another way this improves your mind is through problem solving .This helps players motivate one another. Problem solving also helps you make split-second decisions. Problem solving furthermore helps you gain mental focus and concentrate on every move on the court. In the big picture volleyball enhances your character by letting go of ego or stepping in defensively and offensively as needed.

This brings us to personalities. My personality is ESFJ(consul). This means I am extroverted, feeling, judging, and turbulent. Consoles are very caring and social people who are always supportive. They are observant people who focus not on a me mindset. A console is typically the most popular person on the team. Consoles take initiative to lead their team. Not only do consoles take initiative they encourage teammates when they are down and need inspiration. Consoles are the quarterback making the most important passes, they are the playmakers who score and also pass the ball when needed. Consuls might tend to dwell on their unavoidable mistakes.These mistakes are minue to the number of players in the world.

The most popular type of volleyball in the United States is Court ,in 2022 they were nearly 6.1 million participants. It is estimated that 800 million people play volleyball in the world. My career aspiration is to play Olympic volleyball as a professional athlete. A volleyball career path can offer a satisfying life. Olympic volleyball requires hard work, complete dedication, and commitment beyond just playing the game. In 2023 to 2024 over 564,000 high school students played volleyball with a significant majority being girls. While boys volleyball players are skyrocketing it's still less than girls volleyball. Boys high school has about 63,000 players participating. At the NCAA college level, nearly 2,933 volleyball players participate in all divisions;divisions are like JV or varsity. In the Olympic field there are 13 athletes on each roster and 12 teams compete.

There are many players who have made a career in volleyball and here are some examples of the top three setters: Micah Ma'a,Micah Christonson,and Bruno Rezende.

Micah Ma'a is a well-known American volleyball player. He is known for his athleticism and his impact on both college and professional stages. Micah Ma'a is currently a setter on the US men's national team, and also played professionally in France, Poland, and Turkey. He is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association(AVCA) first team All-American; he earned this title when he played for University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is in the top five setters in the world, explaining much of his success. In addition, Micah has a console personality type.

Micah Christensen is a celebrated volleyball player and is known for being the second best setter in the world. He has exceptional setting skills and his endowment to both the US national team and various professional clubs .Micah is a three-time olympian; winning the bronze medals in Rio Olympics 2016, and the bronze medal in 2024. He also played for top tier Italian and Russian clubs winning many championships and individual awards. His career highlights involved being a four-year starter at USC where he was a three-time AVCA All American.

Bruno Rezende is a highly admired Brazilian volleyball player. He is known for his Superior setting skills and leadership. He is acknowledged as the best setter in the world. He has won numerous awards like an Olympic gold medal, multiple world league titles, and South American championships. Rezende's' breathtaking vita includes championships with both the Brazilian national team and Italian club teams, establishing his status as one of the most accomplished volleyball players in the world. He has won the most valuable player (MVP) and various competitions.

Olympic volleyball players can earn money through various ways; monetary examples include: medal bonuses, sponsorships and professional volleyball league contracts. The US Olympic committee pays athletes a bonus for winning gold medals, and some Europeans give higher payouts. The US Olympic committee awards a $37,500 bonus in addition to $40, 000 to $70,000 for winning a gold medal per year. Some athletes earn up to a million a year. You can also earn money in individual awards within the national and professional teams during the off season of the Olympics.

An Olympic volleyball player entails dedication and many sacrifices. A volleyball experience goes beyond trivial competition but extends into friendships, forging valuable teamwork. The feeling of being able to represent your country gives you great satisfaction ultimately, the Olympic career is a big reminder of the significance of teamwork, the importance of perseverance, and the feeling of competition. This is why I want to be an Olympic volleyball player.

Works Cited

“A Strategy to Win: Personality and Sports.” 16Personalities, www.16personalities.com/articles/a-strategy-to-win-personality-and-sports. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

“Stereotypically, What Would Each MBTI Type Be like in Gym Class?” Quora, www.quora.com/Stereotypically-what-would-each-MBTI-type-be-like-in-gym-class?top_ans=235331454. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

“Estimated Probability of Competing in College Athletics.” NCAA.Org, www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/3/2/estimated-probability-of-competing-in-college-athletics.aspx. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.